A COWBOYS REDEMPTION

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐄𝐎

"Milia, are you ready to go?" Sienna's voice echoed through the house, as I quickly gathered my things. I grabbed my duffel bag, slinging it over my shoulder, and hurried downstairs.

When I reached the bottom, I saw Sienna and Sawyer standing there, dressed in full Western style—Sienna in a plaid shirt and denim skirt, Sawyer in a cowboy hat and boots. I couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Wow, you two truly outdid yourselves."

Sienna's eyes widened as she looked me up and down. "Milia, look at you! Those jeans are hugging your thighs perfectly."

I glanced down at my outfit—boot-cut jeans and cowboy boots that felt odd but comfortable. "I've never worn cowboy boots or boot-cut pants in my life," I said, laughing along with them.

Sawyer grinned, tipping his hat. "Damn, but you sure do look good in 'em."

I blushed, covering my face with my hands. "Stop!"

Just then, the sound of a horn from outside caught our attention. We walked out to see an older man with shoulder-length gray hair and a cowboy hat sitting in a truck.

He leaned out the window, flashing a warm smile. "Howdy, y'all! I'm Wiley!"

I smiled, remembering Wyatt mentioning Wiley. I walked up to him and extended my hand. "Hi, I'm Milia Zorell."

Wiley tipped his hat, his eyes twinkling. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Milia. Wyatt's told me so much about you."

His words took me by surprise. Wyatt talked about me to him? My heart did a little flip at the thought.

"You folks ready to go?" Wiley asked.

I nodded, feeling the excitement bubbling up. "Yeah, we are."

Wiley hopped out to open the truck door, and we piled in before we pulled out of the driveway.

??°

Walking into the rodeo was like stepping into another world.

The air buzzed with excitement, the scent of hay and dirt thick around us.

The energy was high, and the crowd's cheers echoed through the open space.

I watched as riders raced around barrels on their horses, gates slammed open, and animals charged out, kicking up dust. The noise was overwhelming, yet exhilarating.

Sienna nudged me, her eyes wide. "Milia, what the hell did you just get us into?"

I laughed nervously, shaking my head. "I have no idea."

Sawyer rolled his eyes and threw his arms around both of us. "Ugh, stop being such girly girls for a day. This'll be fun!"

We laughed together, before we looked over to Wiley. "Come on, I'll show you where Wyatt is before it's time for him to ride."

We followed Wiley through the crowd, the accents around us blending into a melody of Southern twang. I soaked it all in, the sights, the sounds, and the atmosphere. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced and I've been in Texas my whole life.

As we rounded a corner, I spotted Wyatt sitting on top of a tall black horse, talking to Akhilles who was on a white horse. Wiley cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Wyatt!"

Both of them looked down at us, and Wyatt's face lit up with a wide grin. They hopped off their horses and walked over.

Wyatt's smile grew as he approached. "Ah, you made it."

"I promised I would," I replied, opening my arms for a hug. But Wyatt had other plans. He pulled me into him, smashing his lips into mine in a kiss that made my heart race. My eyes widened in surprise before I melted into the kiss, kissing him back.

When he finally pulled away, I glanced at Sienna and Sawyer, whose mouths hung open in shock. I couldn't help but smile. "Wow, Wyatt."

He grinned. I took a moment to admire him, I'd never seen Wyatt in his full cowboy prime- the hat, the boots, a wool vest, and a belt with a large belt buckle. He looked good. Really good.

Sawyer's attention shifted to the other rider, his eyes narrowing. "Akhilles Diggs?"

Akhilles grinned. "Oh shit. Sawyer McCoy?"

They exchanged a quick handshake and a pat on the back. Sienna and I looked at each other then back at Sawyor and Akhilles, confused.

"You two know each other?" Sienna asked, eyebrows raised.

Sawyer nodded. "We went to UT together. He was a year above me."

I couldn't resist teasing Sienna. "Wow, Sienna. Your boyfriend and brother already know each other? Shocking!"

Sawyer's eyes widened, and he turned to Akhilles. "Diggs, you're dating my sister?"

Before Akhilles could respond, Sienna shouted, "No!" Her laughter was nervous, her cheeks turning a deep red.

I laughed, amused by Sienna's reaction.

The announcer's voice crackled over the speakers, calling the next event. Wyatt's smile softened as he looked at me. "Welp, that's me, y'all."

"Good luck, Wyatt," I said, turning to him, "And please be safe."

He hugged me again, his arms warm and comforting. "I'll see you after the show, Milia."

We watched him walk away, heading toward the arena. The rest of us made our way to the stands, settling in to watch. As we sat down, I heard a voice shouting, "Let's go, Buckie!"

I turned to see an elderly woman standing and clapping, her energy high. It took me a moment, but then I recognized her—it was Wyatt's grandma. I hesitated, feeling a bit nervous, but then I stood up and walked over.

"Hi... you're Wyatt's grandma, aren't you?" I asked softly.

She looked up at me, her face lighting up with a kind smile. "Yes, ma'am, I am. And you are?"

I extended my hand. "I'm Milia... a friend of Wyatt's."

Her smile grew wider, and she took my hand, giving it a firm shake. "Milia? Oh my, aren't you a beauty!" I felt my cheeks warm as she continued. "My Buckie always talks about how beautiful you are. I was wonderin' when I'd get a chance to meet you."

I smiled shyly. "Wyatt always tells me how much he adores you."

She placed a hand on her chest, touched. "Aw, call me Heidi."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Heidi."

We sat down together, and I felt a sense of comfort sitting beside her. The announcer's voice boomed again, introducing the next rider.

"Ridin' all the way from Austin, Texas, we have four-year championship bull rider, Wyatt 'Buckie' Buckley getting ready to take on the dust. This time, he's in a cast y'all!"

My heart raced as I listened, not knowing what to expect. The excitement, the fear—all of it mingled inside me as I waited for Wyatt's turn.

??°

I watched as the bull was walked over to me by three guys, bucking and twisting wildly. I nodded, trying to block out everything except the task at hand. I had to focus. This wasn't my first rodeo, but the nerves still hit every time.

Wiley stood beside me, his voice calm but firm. "Alright, Buckie, all we need is twelve seconds, and you'll be the bull ridin' champion for the fifth year in a row. That cash prize is yours. Can you give me that?"

I scoffed, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Light work."

He clapped me on the back, a grin spreading across his face. "That's the spirit. Let's go bring this trophy home!"

I climbed up on the metal gate, watching as the bull came closer, its muscles rippling beneath its rough hide. Swinging my foot over, I settled onto its back, feeling the raw power beneath me. I placed my hat firmly on my head, adjusting my grip on the rope.

Wiley leaned in, his voice steady. "You ready, Buckie?"

I nodded, eyes locked ahead. The gate creaked open, and the bull exploded out, taking off with a force that shook my bones.

The world blurred as the bull bucked and twisted, trying to shake me off. My body bounced up and down, but I kept my grip tight, my legs clamping down hard. A laugh bubbled up from my chest. "Come on, boy, come on."

The bull thrashed, twisting left, then right, trying to throw me off balance. But I stayed with it, muscles burning, adrenaline pumping. Wiley's voice cut through the chaos. "Come on, Wyatt, you're at six seconds!"

I clenched my jaw, holding on tighter, the crowd's cheers growing louder, blending into a roaring wave of sound.

I could feel the sweat pouring down my face, soaking into my shirt.

Suddenly, my vision started to blur, the edges fading into a haze.

My smile faltered as my body began to betray me—numbness creeping in, tingling spreading through my limbs.

The world tilted, and I knew I was losing it. My grip loosened, my strength draining. My eyes rolled back, and before I could fight it, my hand let go of the rope. The bull won. I hit the ground hard, the dust rising up around me as the crowd gasped.

Everything went dark.

??°

"Let's go, Wyatt!" I cheered, my voice blending with the crowd's excitement. It was thrilling to be here, experiencing something like this for the first time. The energy was contagious, and I felt a rush of adrenaline watching Wyatt ride the bull.

But then, something went wrong. Wyatt's head jerked back, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he let go of the bull, crashing hard onto the dusty ground.

The crowd gasped in unison, the air around us shifting from excitement to fear.

My heart dropped as I saw Wyatt's body start to shake uncontrollably.

I shot up from my seat, hearing Wyatt's grandma's worried voice beside me. "What's happening?"

Panic rose in me as I watched him tremble, his body stiff and shaking on the ground. And then it clicked. I'd seen this before, too many times to count. "He's having a seizure," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Without thinking, I bolted out of the stands, pushing my way through the crowd. I jumped over the fence, my feet hitting the ground running. "Move, move!" I shouted, urgency in every word.

I reached Wyatt's side, my heart racing. "I'm a nurse," I said quickly to the group surrounding him. "He's having a seizure right now."

Wiley's face was pale. "A seizure?"

"Yes," I nodded, already moving into action. "Wiley, help me get him on his side!"

Together, we gently turned Wyatt onto his side, giving his body space to move freely. His mouth started to foam, and I quickly unbuttoned his vest, trying to ease his breathing. "Is this his first time having a seizure?" I asked, my voice tight with worry.

Wiley shook his head, clearly shaken. "Yes, he's never had one before."

My stomach twisted, fear growing. This was more than likely from his concussion. It was serious, and we needed to act fast.

"We need to get him out of here now!" I said firmly, glancing around for help.

Before we could move him, Wyatt's body began to calm, the violent shaking easing up. He groaned, his eyelids fluttering as he started to regain consciousness.

I leaned in, cupping his face gently. "Hey, you're okay, you're okay," I soothed, my voice soft but steady. "Just lay down. Help is on the way."

Relief washed over me as I saw the life coming back into his eyes. I kissed his forehead, listening as he groaned on the ground, trying to gather himself again.